Running head: USING TEMPORAL THERMOMETERS

Accuracy and Precision of Using a Temporal Thermometer

Bree A. Miller
Ferris State University

USING TEMPORAL THERMOMETERS

Accuracy and Precision of Using a Temporal Thermometer

New technology is used every day in the hospital setting. In order to deliver the best care
possible, health care workers prefer to use the most up to date, proven effective instruments.
Every device used in the clinical setting is tested to prove its accuracy and precision before it is
set into practice. Temporal thermometers are the new popular temperature reading device used
in clinical practice. Although temporal thermometers are quite expensive, they are thought to be
more accurate than other thermometers. Temporal thermometers are also convenient when it
comes to time and mode of obtaining the temperature. In the past couple of years temporal
thermometers are used over oral thermometers in the clinical setting due to evidence based
practice.
Different Methods for Taking a Temperature
Over the years different methods have been used in order to obtain a temperature. Such
methods include rectal, temporal, oral and tympanic. It has been proven that rectal temperatures
are the most accurate because they reach closest to the bodys core temperature (Greenes, 2001).
But they also are the most invasive/uncomfortable method of obtaining a temperature reading.
Rectal thermometers are mainly used with infants and critical patients (Greenes, 2001).
Temporal thermometers are thought to be the next, most accurate device. They are noninvasive
and only take a few seconds to read a temperature. It is important to use proper technique
swiping the temporal artery across the forehead to ensure the thermometers accuracy (Greenes,
2001). Next is the oral thermometer which is the most popular and commonly used device.
Although this is the most common instrument used in the clinical setting and also at home, it is
one of the least accurate. There are multiple factors that affect the oral reading such as the
patient drinking before the reading is obtained or the time it takes to receive a reading. Therefore

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this method of obtaining a temperature has been pushed aside to the more accurate methods.
Lastly, a temperature can be obtained by using a tympanic thermometer. This device is placed
the ear canal and is dependent on this placement (Greenes, 2001). It is more accurate than an
oral temperature but is not as common. With the many options of thermometers to choose from,
it is important to use the most accurate device for the situation.
Accuracy of Temporal Thermometers
The new popular way to obtain a temperature in the clinical setting is using a temporal
thermometer. It is a probe that is swiped across the temporal artery on the forehead and then
placed behind the earlobe (Wolfson, 2013). This thermometer has been proven to be more
accurate than oral temperatures but less accurate than rectal temperatures. Studies have shown
that the accuracy and precision of the temporal artery thermometer exceeded levels
recommended by experts for use in acute care clinical practice (Wolfson, 2013). The temporal
thermometers accuracy is dependent on the proper use of swiping the forehead and placement.
It is a popular device due to the quick reading it produces and how it is noninvasive. This device
is extremely popular with children who move around a lot and those who struggle with keeping
the oral probe under their tongue. The temporal thermometer is an accurate method of obtaining
a temperature without taking an extended amount of time or causing discomfort (Gail, 2011).
Even though rectal temperatures are the most accurate, they can be mentally demeaning to
patients and also have the most risk for internal complications.
Benefits of Using Temporal Thermometers in the Clinical Setting
Temporal thermometers are now the standard thermometer in most hospital units. Even
though they cost on average, four hundred dollars, they are worth it. Even for a nurses aide that
has an extensive patient census to obtain vitals on, this device cuts down their time spent in every

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room. Especially in the middle of the night when patients are woken up to check vitals, the oral
thermometer is not a good choice. The patient has to completely wake up in order to keep the
probe under their tongue, where as the temporal thermometer takes no work on the patients end.
Also in critical situations where a temperature is needed immediately and at a constant rate, the
temporal thermometer is the obvious choice (Gail, 2011). In a rapid response or code situation
the patient can sometimes not respond easily and vitals are key for medical professionals to
evaluate. It is near impossible to get an oral temperature on a coding patient and an axillary
temperature is the least accurate to obtain (Gail, 2011). This is when temporal thermometers are
useful to have. With their ease and efficiency, temporal thermometers are becoming more and
more common.
Rectal Thermometer Will not be Replaced
Even though temporal thermometers are accurate, they still are not as accurate as rectal
temperatures. In critical situations, rectal temperatures are the most accurate (Wolfson, 2013).
Rectal temperatures are also more consistent when it is crucial to get a true value. 34% of all
cases of rectal fever and 6% of cases of high-grade rectal fever were missed by the temporal
artery thermometer (Gail, 2011). Such things as sweating and improper use of a temporal
thermometer can cause inaccuracies. For example, if an infant is running a fever it is crucial to
get a temperature in order to medicate. Getting a rectal temperature would be much more
effective in order to get the infants true temperature. Technology can only be trusted to a certain
degree and it is always important to recheck a temperature if there are any questions. The closer
to the core of the body you go, the more accurate the temperature reading will be so it only
makes sense that rectal temperatures would be the best (Wolfson, 2013).

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Conclusion
When someone thinks of a thermometer, the image that usually comes up is a probe
under the tongue. When you ask a patient to get their temperature, the first thing they do is open
up their mouth. But in todays practice, temporal thermometers are becoming more main stream.
Due to their accuracy and efficiency they have become considerably popular in most all clinical
settings. They are not invasive like rectal thermometers and have fewer chances for inaccurate
readings like oral thermometers. Temporal thermometers are easy to use and anyone can learn to
use one correctly. They are not perfect and rectal thermometers are more accurate but temporal
thermometers are more practical. After looking at the research, in non critical situations,
temporal thermometers are the best choice.

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References

Gail, L. (2011). Accuracy of temporal artery thermometry in neonatal intensive care

infants. Advances in Neonatal Care, 11(1), 6270. doi:10.1097/ANC.0b013e3182087d2b
Greenes, D. (2001). Accuracy of a noninvasive temporal artery thermometer for use in
infants. Jama Pediatrics, 155(3), 376-381. Retrieved from
http://archpedi.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=190436
Wolfson, M. (2013). Accuracy and precision of temporal artery thermometers in febrile
patients. MedSurg Nursing, 22(5), 297. Retrieved from http://0go.galegroup.com.libcat.ferris.edu/ps/i.do?action=interpret&id=GALE|A349112100&v=
2.1&u=lom_ferrissu&it=r&p=ITOF&sw=w&authCount=1